Pacquiao says he's not in favor of abortion, bats for counseling of rape victims

Presidential aspirant and senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said he was not in favor of legalizing abortion even for women who were victims of rape and incest, adding that they must be given counseling instead.

“I’m against abortion. Wala naman kasalanan yung bata, huwag naman maapektuhan yung bata sa mga nangyayari kumbaga may healing pa naman eh,” Pacquiao said in an interview with TV host Boy Abunda.

(I’m against the abortion. It is not the child's fault. Don't let the child be affected by what's happening because there is still healing.)

“May pagbabago pa mangyayari at icounseling yung mga narape hindi pa naman tapos ang lahat, may pagasa pang magbago ang lahat, magnormalize ang lahat,” he added.

(There will still be changes and we need to counsel the victims. It's not all over yet, there is still hope that everything will change, everything will be normalized.)

Pacquiao said counseling the victims may take a few months with proper guidance and advice from the parents, guardians, or counselors.

“Ilang buwan, a few months and then maheheal yang sugat na yan at maiintindihan nila nang mabuti, kailangan lang tamang guidance, counseling sa isang bata,” he said.

He, however, noted that it would still be the decision of the victim if she will get an abortion.

“Gawin natin ang lahat ng makakaya pero kung ano yung desisyon niya, hindi natin siya mapipigilan, pero bawal yan yung abortion,” the senator said.

(Let's do everything we can but whatever her decision, we can't stop her, but abortion is forbidden.)

“Yung counseling kasi hindi lamang Word of God ang isheshare mo sa kanya, ipapakita mo na ito pa yung kinabukasan mong kakaharapin, ito pa yung kinabukasan na may maganda pang kinabukasan,” he added.

(Counseling is not just only sharing the Word of God, but you must advice that there is still a better future.)

Abortion is still prohibited in the Philippines.

Individuals proven involved in inducing an abortion may be punished with up to six years of imprisonment.

Raise salary standardization

Pacquiao vowed to raise the salary standardization and boost the economy in the country to prevent Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) seeking opportunities abroad if he is elected as president in Eleksyon 2022.

“Ang plano ko talaga sa bansa natin ang trabaho maghanap ng tao, hindi ang tao maghanap ng trabahao para hindi na sila pumunta pa sa abroad para iwanan yung pamilya,” he said.

(My real plan in our country is that jobs will find people, not people to find work so that they don't have to go abroad to leave their families.)

He said that his plan was not to separate the parents from their children as this may be the cause of separation among families.

“Ang plano ko talaga ayaw ko mahiwalay sila sa kanilang mga pamilya kasi dyan karamihan naghihiwalay ang isang pamilya, ang asawa mag-abroad and then pagbalik wala ng babalikan may kilala ng iba yun po ang nangyayari. Malaki ang role ng mga OFW na dapat tulungan at gabayan ng ating gobyerno para hindi sila mapabayaan,” he said.

(My plan is I don't want them to be separated from their families because that's where most of the family separates, the husband goes abroad and then he comes back there is someone else. The role of OFWs are important and they must be helped and guided by our government so that they are not neglected.)

“Palakasin natin yung ekonomiya natin, pataasin natin salary standardization sa bansa natin maraming paraan ang pwedeng gawin basta malinis lang, sugpuin natin yung korupsyon makikita mo ang pagbabago sa ating bansa,” he added.

(Let's strengthen our economy, let's raise salary standardization in our country, there are many ways that can be done as long as it's clean, let's fight corruption, you will see the changes in our country.) —NB, GMA News